Wyre

Wyre's population grew older in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and health.

The population reached nearly 110,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Wyre increased by 2.0%, from just under 106,000 to 108,000.

The addition of just over 2,100 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wyre was home to, on average, 2.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Wyre

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Wyre increased by four years, from 43 to 47 years.

This remote area had the second-highest average age in the North West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 2,500 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 4,000.

About 14% of people in Wyre are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Wyre by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disablity in Wyre

This area saw the North West's third-largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

Across the region, only Eden (from 90% to 89%) and Sefton (from 88% to 87%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87%) in Wyre reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 88% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.2% to 5.2%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Wyre

The number of people in Wyre that described themselves as Christian increased from just under 88,000 in 2001 to just over 80,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 83% to 75% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the North West (from 78% to 67%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Wyre that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 9,900 in 2001 to just over 19,000 in 2011 (from 9.4% to 18%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation remained close to 7,100 (6.6%)

About 340 people (0.2%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 230 in 2001 (0.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Wyre decreased by 8.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Wyre by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Wyre that rented privately increased from 8.3% to 14% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 7.0%, while the percentage of Wyre households that owner their home decreased from 83% to 78%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Wyre increased by 5.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Wyre, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Wyre residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% to 7.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of Wyre residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Wyre decreased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wyre, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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